Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 57205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Her breath catches and she goes still, like she’s thinking it over.
“We’ll need some kind of signal, I guess,” I suggest. “So I know if you really don’t want it.”
“You mean like a safe word?” Her warble is small again, and it kinda kills me to hear her that way, because she’s usually so full of confidence.
“Safe word. Right. I guess so.” I don’t know shit about BDSM, but a safe word makes sense.
“How about if I say…peanut butter if I want it to stop?”
I smile. “Peanut butter. Got it. You gonna remember that, doll? If I have you pinned down and nervous?”
“I’ll remember. Will you?” she demands, her sassy attitude returning.
“Yep. Did you just agree to be my on-demand pussy for the rest of the time you’re here?”
She bites my shoulder, hard enough to leave a mark. “No. You just agreed to be my gigolo.”
I chuckle, stroking her soft skin. I’m not sure when I’ve last smiled or chuckled. But then again, I haven’t had sex like that in...well, maybe ever.
Even with Gio in critical condition in the next room, the heaviness that usually hangs over my head seems temporarily lifted.
And I hate to end it, but Gio’s waiting. And I need to get things straightened out with his nurse.
I ease back so I can see Desiree’s face and catch her jaw in an overhand hold. “Okay, doll. We still have serious shit to talk about.”
Her eyes widen.
“Why were you leaving?”
Desiree sags a bit. “I didn’t leave,” she insists. “I was considering it.”
I force myself not to smile. It’s so cute how she always argues with me.
“Okay. Why?”
She shrugs, a slightly mulish expression settling over her. “I’m not really sure I’m going to walk out of here alive.” She lifts her chin, a direct challenge flashing in her big brown eyes.
Now it’s my turn to sag. As much as her fear pisses me off, she’s right to worry. She’s gonna be a loose end, and if I were smart, if I were ruthless, I would make sure she didn’t walk out of here and talk.
“Oh, baby.” I release her jaw and let my grip trail down her throat. It’s not a threat, but she swallows convulsively beneath my hand. “I don’t off innocent women.” I trace her jaw. “Especially not ones who work their asses off to save my brother’s life.” I cup behind her nape and pull her toward me to kiss her neck. “Especially not ones with little freckles on their upturned noses.” I tap her nose. “I promise you’ll walk away from this with the rewards you deserve. I know how to show my appreciation to the people who prove their loyalty. I’m going to take care of you, Desiree.”
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll talk? I mean, there’s a reason Gio’s not at the hospital, right?”
Regret washes through me. I wish she wasn’t pressing me on this. “Oh, baby, I have hundreds of ways to keep you from talking, and none of them involve putting you six feet under. But I don’t want to make threats. Not with the taste of you still on my tongue. Not when you just made me come harder than I have in years.”
I watch the veil of lust drop back down over her face and she writhes over my lap in an intoxicating swivel.
“So I’m gonna say this, and I’m only gonna say it once. I need you to stay here and take care of Gio. I need you to promise you won’t tell anyone where you are, or who you’re with. Not now or ever. And I need you to know that if you disobey me again, there will be serious consequences. Capiche?”
Her face goes pale and I detect a little pissed-off in her expression, but mostly she keeps it hidden. She pushes off my lap, and this time, I let her leave. “Yeah, I got it.” Definitely a sullen ring to her voice.
Well, that’s good. She needs to be scared of me.
I can’t just fuck her into compliance, as much as I’m gonna try.
Chapter 4
Desiree
I yank on my underclothing and day-old scrubs, wishing I could drop-kick Junior.
I don’t know what in the hell I was thinking, making a sex arrangement with the man! I am not going through with it. I will definitely be calling peanut butter the first time he tries to lay his hands on me.
Junior is dangerous. I was stupid to have sex with him once.
I don’t need to repeat the mistake.
I go and check on Gio, even though I refreshed his IV and meds before I tried to leave. He’s still okay. No fever. Pulse is in a decent range. He’s sweating a little, and I pull the blankets down to give him some air. I use the bottom sheet to roll him to his side so he doesn’t get bedsores.